Letting Go

Remember this post I wrote a few weeks ago?

I felt on top of the world when I wrote that. I knew that God loved me immensely, that He had amazing plans for my life, and that He had never left me. Yet, two and half weeks later, I had forgotten all about that.

Things didn't go the way I thought they were going.

I was let down.
I was hurt.
I was broken.

I actually spoke out loud to my husband that I thought that God didn't want me to be happy or have anything good in my life.

Needless to say, he was shocked.

And, to be perfectly honest, I was a little unnerved. I didn't understand why I felt that way...why I would really think something like that...when I know with absolute certainty that it's not true.
I know God loves me. I know He has good things in store for me...and that He wants good things in my life. I know that.

And yet I let satan tear me down...and I believed his lie.

I'm tearing up just thinking about how low I was in that moment as I bawled my eyes out.

How could I ever doubt the incredible, unconditional love of my Savior? How could I lose sight so quickly of every amazing thing He has done in my life? How could I tell my husband that God didn't want me to have good things in my life, when he is one of the best things that ever happened to me?

(We had lunch at Buca di Beppo on our way. Yum!!)

The theme of the women's retreat I went on this past weekend was Beyond my Comfort Zone - I'm Letting Go.

A.maz.ing.

Isn't it so crazy how God works to get our attention?

I had no idea what to expect for last weekend...and I was blown away.

I met some amazing women, got to know some other women much better, heard amazing messages from our awesome speaker, and allowed Jesus to heal my heart.

It was fabulous...even with all of the crazy weather and roads being closed.

Jesus knew exactly what I needed to hear this weekend...and He made sure I heard it. Loud and clear.


Our theme song for the weekend was perfect, too. It's called I'm Letting Go by Francesca Battistelli. The lyrics are so perfect.

My heart beats, standing on the edge
But my feet have finally left the ledge

Like an acrobat
There’s no turning back

I’m letting go
Of the life I planned for me
And my dreams
I’m losing control
Of my destiny
It feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe
So I’m letting go

This is a giant leap of faith
Trusting and trying to embrace

The fear of the unknown
Beyond my comfort zone

I’m letting go
Of the life I planned for me
And my dreams
I’m losing control
Of my destiny
It feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe
So I’m letting go

Giving in to your gravity
Knowing You are holding me
I’m not afraid

Jesus is amazing. The fact that He truly does love me so much, even through my doubting, is beyond me. I'm so grateful for that love.

Randomness on an {early} Friday

First of all, I was VERY excited to find these delights in the grocery store this evening:

(I have been known to eat 7 or 8 bags of these, with the help of my hubby, in about a month's time. Don't judge. You know you have a sweet tooth, too)

I am looking forward to a weekend with some ladies from church. This is my first time going to the women's retreat and I am excited to see what it's like. The weather is supposed to be crazy there, too, so we will be spending a lot of time indoors...but that is perfectly fine by me!

I am also REALLY excited for another much anticipated trip occurring very soon! That trip will definitely get its own blog post when I return.

I'm also wishing I had a million dollars and could buy a lot of the cute stuff I've been seeing in different shops lately. Shops like Just.Lovely.Things, Sugar Money, Gussy Sews, and lollipops.

Did I mention I won a giveaway this week? Just.Lovely.Things had a bunch of giveaways last week on her blog...and I won a custom made scarf from Repent Industries by Nikkisic! I am SO excited to see how it's going to turn out!!

What are some random things in your life today?

Mercy

I've been reading in Romans the past two weeks.

(We've been going through it for my Tuesday night Bible study)

As I was reading through Romans 11 tonight, I came across a couple of verses that really hit me hard.

The first are verses 20-21 (for the full context, read Romans 10 and 11. For a quick synopsis, Paul is talking about the way the Israelites kept hardening their hearts towards God and how the Gentiles now have the chance for salvation):

...But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.

Ouch.

How many times do I take my salvation for granted?

I am not Jewish.
I am not an Israelite, nor one of God's chosen people.
Yet, Christ extended His hand out to me and offered me salvation.

Why do I act like it's something I can just claim or use when I need it...instead of something that should consume my whole life?



Here's the other verse:

For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.
(vs. 32)

How many times do I take His mercy for granted?

I sin.
Every.single.day.

I wouldn't have salvation or the promise of eternal life without His mercies.

I'm a screw up.

And yet, many times I think, "Well, at least I'm not doing that...or that...or that..."


Yeah.
Because God measures different sins differently, doesn't He?

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
(James 2:10)

Yeah.
He sure doesn't.

Just some things He's showing me tonight.

What has He been showing you lately?

Giveaway!

Ok, so I am not hosting a giveaway...though I have been thinking about it quite a bit lately.

Little Miss Momma is hosting a Scentsy giveaway on her blog! It's a $25 gift certificate to buy Scentsy's products! They have a lot of cute new warmers for the spring and summer...and also some new scents! If you have never checked out Scentsy before, be sure to head to Little Miss Momma's blog and click on the link for her friend's Scentsy shop. If you're already a Scentsy fan, then I'm sure you need a new scent or two...or more...or maybe even a new pretty warmer for spring! I especially love the new Heirloom warmer. So pretty with a lace touch!

Anyway, check out Little Miss Momma's blog to enter the giveaway!

The Wacky World of Blogging

I have definitely done a lot of branching out into the blogging world these past couple of months.
When I first started this blog, the only blogs I followed were those of people I physically knew. Six months later, I started following a blog a friend recommended. And, it's only been within the last four or five months that I have truly started seeking out other blogs to read by people I've never met. And, let me tell you, it has been an amazing experience. I am constantly being encouraged by these Christian women in other parts of the country. I never thought I'd ever say that.
Anyway, I wrote this blog back in December...but my comment box was all messed up. Since then, the blog I wrote about my struggles with getting pregnant has had 68 views! It amazes me that people are coming to my blog and reading about my story...and many of them are probably people I've never met before.
I'd love to hear more from my readers. I'd love to know if you agree or disagree with what I post. I'd love for you to ask me questions or give me your thoughts...or share your story with me! I know that God can encourage us in many different ways...and I think, in our age of technology, that He definitely does so in this crazy world of blogging.
Feel free to "follow" me if you don't already...or keep lurking, if that's more your thing. I just feel so blessed in this blogging world...that I have the opportunity to share my story and my thoughts with people I don't even know!
And, thanks for taking the time to read. Thanks for being a part of my world. Thanks for the encouragement that I have received from many of you. I never knew what this would evolve into almost two years ago...but I'm lovin' every minute of it!

Themes

My husband wrote his first blog in a while this week.

It had been brewing for about a month. But, he wanted to make sure he backed everything up with Scripture...and wrote it for the right reasons. If you have the time to read it, you really should. It's good. You can find it here.

I found it interesting that I also read this post tonight...about something very similar. While this guy is not using a Biblical approach, I very much agreed with much of what he said. I know not everyone's marriage is like that...or can be fixed that easily. Every one is different and there are plenty of different reasons people choose to get divorced or try to work things out. So, I know there's not a "perfect" solution for every situation...but I think it's good, for those that aren't even thinking about getting a divorce and are happy in their marriages...to take the time and re-evaluate where they're at. Remember why they made their vows and why they fell in love with that person in the first place.

There are definitely days that I get frustrated with my husband...or with myself...and wonder, "Why did I do this again?" But, then I remember the journey God brought us on, and the way He kept bringing us back to each other...and in that moment, I know why (if you're curious about that journey, I blogged about it a bit in this post).

Marriage isn't supposed to be easy. Life isn't supposed to be easy. Our Christian walk isn't even supposed to be easy. But, I know that the best things in life...my relationship with my Savior, my husband, my relationships with family and friends...they are all worth the hard times...and they're all worth fighting for.


I love how God brings things to my attention in "themes". These two posts being written in the same week a coincidence? I think not. The fact that almost every single week, my Tuesday night Bible study and what we discuss in church on Sunday nights end up being centered around the same section of Scripture a coincidence? Definitely not. I love the way God works to get my attention...even if He has to use multiple means to do so. I think that just means He wants to make sure I get it, that I'm really paying attention. Nothin' wrong with that.

Does God speak to you in "themes"? Are you paying attention to catch what He's trying to speak to you? I know I definitely need to do a better job of listening...especially when it's something I seem to constantly struggle with "getting". Thank God for His grace and mercy!

What I Love Wednesday

I'm linking up with lollipops today.
I like this idea a lot of sharing things I'm lovin' for the week.
Here are a few of my favorites:


1. Headband from Ruffles and Fringe.
2. Necklace from roomofyourown.
3. This amazing verse (if it's too small to read, it's Romans 5:3-5). Source
4. These cute note cards from lollipops herself.

What are you lovin' this week?

Some New Pieces

I have a bunch of new necklaces to show all of you!

Like I said in an earlier blog, I had lots of opportunities to make jewelry.

The first at the retreat I went on.

And the second at the Ladies Jewelry Night I hosted this past weekend.

I also got the opportunity to make some new things with my sister yesterday afternoon.

I'm also excited to show you the two necklaces I made as gifts...that I can post now...as the recipients have received them now!

Enjoy!

This is the first necklace I made at the retreat. It's one of my new favs :)

Isn't that pendant great?

A little highlight of the details

And the top section

The other necklace I made at retreat

I LOVE these red beads!!

I don't wear a lot of red, but I couldn't pass these up

Me modeling it

I made this one at the Ladies Night

I LOVE this bow!

Isn't it so cute? (I got this pattern from looking at a catalog in the store. It was meant for a bracelet, but I turned it into a necklace)

I made this one for my Secret Sister!

I love these beads!

I like these hearts a lot

So pretty!

And of course, the heart clasps I love oh so much.

I made this one for my friend, J.B. She loves purple!

When I first saw these beads, I immediately thought of J.B.

Aren't they pretty together?

I made this one when my sister was over yesterday. I also started another necklace that I'm hoping my lovely friend E.H. will help me finish tomorrow!

Aren't these beads pretty? It's a simple, but very Spring-y necklace.

And I made this one at the Ladies Night, too. I didn't get any pics of the details, but it was my first attempt at a double chained necklace like this...besides the triple chains on the bow one.

What are your thoughts on me creating an Etsy store to sell my stuff?

The Power of Hope

I got a huge glimmer of hope this week.

An amazing, powerful, wonderful reminder that God can do what He says He can do.

I just had this overwhelming peace and love envelope me this week.

And, wouldn't you know it...stupid satan tried to ruin it all. Someone tried very hard to squash my hope...and I almost let them...but when I realized what was going on, I put my foot down.
Hope is such a powerful thing. It gives flight to the realization that things really could turn out good...or a dream really could come true...or that God really is trustworthy.
The events of this week made me want to look up a bunch of verses on hope. I decided to share a few of them with you (all taken from the NIV):

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. Remember, O LORD, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
(Psalm 25:4-6)

In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in you.
(Psalm 33:21-22)

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
(Psalm 62:5-6)

Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed.
(Psalm 119:116)

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.
(Psalm 130:5)

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
(Romans 12:12)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
(Romans 15:13)

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
(Hebrews 10:22-24)

Oh man...

Putting our hope in people on this earth will only let us down. I can hope all I want that a person will change their ways...but that doesn't mean they will. I can hope with everything in me that a friend will realize how much they need God in their lives...but that doesn't mean they'll actually make that decision. And yet, when we put our hope in God, all these things are possible.
I love how Psalm 103:5 says that, "...in his word, I put my hope." That is where our hope should reside. And, Hebrews 10:23 says, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess." The hope we should be professing is the hope we have in Christ! The hope He's given us by the mere fact that we can take Him at His word. He fulfills His promises. He is trustworthy. He is never going to leave us or forsake us.

Where has your hope been lying? In those around you? Or in your Savior? Do you truly believe He can do what He says He can do...and that He WILL do it? Or, do you doubt?

Trust me...I've been in the doubting camp a lot. I was just there last week, in fact. I still have my moments. But I'm learning to hold onto hope...because my God will fulfill His promises in my life...and in yours. Praise be to Him!

(Taken on our trip to Santa Cruz in January. I didn't get a good pic of the beach from the retreat, so this beach will have to do)

(Note: The phrase "God can do what He says He can do" comes from Beth Moore's Believing God study. It's amazing. If you've never checked out a Beth Moore study before, I definitely recommend that one.)

Retreat

Let me just say, the retreat was amazing!

God is truly amazing. He brought this beautiful vision to a very dear friend of mine a few months ago. At first, she was thinking it would be a good thing to do with our college girls. We would meet with them once a week for 6-8 weeks, and then end the whole thing with some sort of all day or all weekend conclusion. She presented the idea to me and asked me to be praying about it. About a month later, it evolved into something much greater...an idea for our yearly retreat. The two of us met with another woman (who I happen to co-lead my Tuesday night Bible study with), and we started hammering out some details. We decided to meet with the college girls for the four weeks leading up to the retreat...and decided to go over those same topics briefly with the other women on Tuesday nights.
As time went on, we divvied up topics and responsibilities we would each be taking care of. And before we knew it, we had our retreat planned out...as well as those four weeks leading up to it.
And the most amazing part about it? There's no way we could have come up with this plan on our own. God molded it and shaped it...as well as us...into this perfect plan that touched many lives.
The retreat itself was amazing. The first night, many of the women just opened up and let out some very personal things about themselves. Major walls were falling down all around us. The second day, we all took the time to identify the things that hold us back from living a life of complete discipleship with Jesus. We spent two hours of quiet time with our Savior (some of the women even went down and sat on the beach to do so). We made jewelry together and shared many laughs. And, we came together Saturday night to talk about the importance of carrying each other's burdens and encouraging one another. It was phenomenal. Women started encouraging each other and sharing their testimonies and just being real. We ended our weekend Sunday morning with a wonderful time of sharing some of the things God did in our hearts that weekend.

We worshiped together.

Prayed together.

Cried together.

Laughed together.

It was a perfect weekend that only God could have put together.

18 women, from all different walks of life, discovered how much we all truly have in common. 18 women realized just how much we need other women in our lives. And these same 18 women left that crazy house by the beach with a word from our Savior...and things we need to work on to walk more closely with Him.
I have heard some amazing things in the last couple of days from some of these women. Ways that God has been working on them in their daily lives. It is so encouraging to me. I am so thankful that I was able to share a little bit of my heart about encouraging each other and sharing burdens...but most of all...I'm thankful I was able to share many verses from Scripture that speak that very same message.

My heart is full of the goodness and grace of my Lord.

We all need fellowship with other believers. I am so thankful for the beautiful women He's put in my life...those that went on the retreat...and those that didn't. I'm also thankful for the blogger "friends" I've come across these past few months. I love that He uses so many different things in life to encourage us to walk more closely to Him.
What has God been teaching you lately? What areas is He calling you to work on? Who is He using to encourage you...and who might He be calling you to encourage?

Be blessed this week, blog readers, and open your hearts to the things God might be trying to tell you.

Anticipation...Hurt...Happiness

Anticipation kills us sometimes, doesn't it?
I am getting ready to go on an amazing retreat with some wonderful women this weekend...and the anticipation of what God is going to do is making me all antsy. I am also a little nervous, as I am one of the leaders/speakers at the retreat...and am also co-leading the worship as well. But, I know God has already prepared me for what I'm going to share...and I know He's prepared the other two women as well. We have been praying about and talking about this retreat for a couple of months now...and I am so pleased with how God brought everything together. I know God ordained who would go a long time before we even started planning it...and I know He has amazing things in store to teach us all.
I am just so excited to see lives changed!

On another note, my heart is going out to another friend this week who experienced something tragic. There are so many people hurting right now...and it breaks my heart. Thankfully, they are able to turn their hearts towards God and accept His comfort during this time. I don't know how people can get through life without Him...

And, on another note, I am making some new necklaces in the future...and I am very excited to see how they're going to turn out!